overflow box
- Thread starter woogy
- Start date
Aadler
New member
If you really cant drill a hole, try www.lifereef.com, I dont have personal experience but know a couple happy people, well, as happy as you can be IMO with an overflow box.
FranktheTankTx
New member
ESHOPPS are reliable, and they cost a fraction of a LifeReef. I've never had one fail. If ran properly, they won't ever fail.
FranktheTankTx
New member
Looking at the design, they can't fail. I'm sorry, but if I can run one for a year with out failure... they're not going to fail. I can't help it if some people don't know how to operate and check them from time to time. Push the right amount of flow thru the U tube, and it won't fail.
Well, I never say never... remember the Titanic.
Well, I never say never... remember the Titanic.
Yes, they can and have failed. There are people on this forum who have had problems with them. We have had this discussion many times, but for the benefit of the OP, here is the problem with the design of the Eshopps.
A siphon's velocity is determined by the difference in height between the high side and the low side of the siphon. In an aquarium overflow, that is the tank side skimmer box, and the rear drain box. The Eshopps has a very shallow skimmer box, short U Tube, high drain. This makes for a weak siphon. A Lifereef has a deep skimmer box, long U Tube, low drain. It has a greater distance between the high and low side with makes for a stronger siphon. This makes the overflow more reliable, and more tolerant of a lower flow return.
Here is some info on siphons: Note that this looks a lot like an Aquarium siphon overflow.
The velocity of the siphon is thus driven solely by the height difference between the surface of the upper reservoir and the drain point. The height of the intermediate high point, hB, does not affect the velocity of the siphon. However, as the siphon is a single system, vB = vC and the intermediate high point does limit the maximum velocity. The drain point cannot be lowered indefinitely to increase the velocity. Equation 3 will limit the velocity to a positive pressure at the intermediate high point to prevent cavitation. The maximum velocity may be calculated by combining equations 1 and 3:
A siphon's velocity is determined by the difference in height between the high side and the low side of the siphon. In an aquarium overflow, that is the tank side skimmer box, and the rear drain box. The Eshopps has a very shallow skimmer box, short U Tube, high drain. This makes for a weak siphon. A Lifereef has a deep skimmer box, long U Tube, low drain. It has a greater distance between the high and low side with makes for a stronger siphon. This makes the overflow more reliable, and more tolerant of a lower flow return.
Here is some info on siphons: Note that this looks a lot like an Aquarium siphon overflow.
The velocity of the siphon is thus driven solely by the height difference between the surface of the upper reservoir and the drain point. The height of the intermediate high point, hB, does not affect the velocity of the siphon. However, as the siphon is a single system, vB = vC and the intermediate high point does limit the maximum velocity. The drain point cannot be lowered indefinitely to increase the velocity. Equation 3 will limit the velocity to a positive pressure at the intermediate high point to prevent cavitation. The maximum velocity may be calculated by combining equations 1 and 3:
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Toddrtrex
Premium Member
I know how to operate one, and I do check it from time to time, so I know that I wasn't the issue. The issue was that the baffle in the outside box wasn't high enough, so when the main pump was shut off, the siphon would break. It has nothing to do with user error, and everything to do with design/poor quality control.
stingythingy45
New member
Yup,ran an Eshopps for almost a year with NO issues.
Even lost power a few times.
Even lost power a few times.
To be clear, I'm not saying the Eshopps wont work. Its does for many, but there have also been people who have not had good luck with them. The design is not as good as a Lifereef. When someone asks for a reliable overflow (I cant see why you would want anything else), a Lifereef is that. An Eshopps may be that.
stingythingy45
New member
I think these may have been issues that Eshopps has fixed in the past year or so......who knows.
But I have also seen hobbyest complain about U tube overflows and then find out they're using a maxijet 1200 for their return pump.:lol:
FranktheTankTx
New member
All good replies. I'm not saying someone hasn't had problems with an ESHOPPS... I've heard of their problems as well. But just like Todd who posts of the short baffle. I've owned two ESHOPPS and neither have a short baffle. I can't comment on his problems or others'.
All I know is, both ESHOPPS overflow boxes I have owned have worked perfectly with out failure, and the money spent on both is still less than a LifeReef.
You can rest assured... if the ESHOPPS fails, I will eat my words on this very forum. But if I buy a Ford truck and it runs for 200,000 miles with out problem... you can bet your *** I'll support it and stay loyal to it.
All I know is, both ESHOPPS overflow boxes I have owned have worked perfectly with out failure, and the money spent on both is still less than a LifeReef.
You can rest assured... if the ESHOPPS fails, I will eat my words on this very forum. But if I buy a Ford truck and it runs for 200,000 miles with out problem... you can bet your *** I'll support it and stay loyal to it.
Exactly. You dont see posts of people with problems with LR. I've seen more posts of problems with Eshopps than any other U Tube overflow.
Again the Eshopps may be reliable. The Lifereef is reliable. The Lifereef has a better design. Choose what you feel comfortable with.
Again the Eshopps may be reliable. The Lifereef is reliable. The Lifereef has a better design. Choose what you feel comfortable with.
drowningdreamer
New member
I'm using the Eshopps PF-800.
I believe the one I bought was of the new makes. It still had a short U-Tube compared to a U-tube I had purchased on the same order with the overflow box. So I'm using the longer U-tube and it works, does what I expected. I've had a power outage and didn't lose siphon. Also when shutting off return pump didn't have loss either. Using with a double Tee'd off Mag 9.5.
I've also used the Hurricane overflow box. Well sort of used one, because before I could use it I dropped the outer box and put a nice crack up the side. So I had to modify a Plastic container to replace the outer box. Used it for a few months and didn't have any issues. Just looked ugly and inner box was too wide. The hurricanes aren't as strong because they are injected molded and the plastic walls are very thin. Also used with my Mag 9.5 pump.
Reasons that I didn't purchase LifeReef from the get go was because of the price. I figure If I pay that price for a overflow box I mind as well get a RR tank and have no worries at all.
I believe the one I bought was of the new makes. It still had a short U-Tube compared to a U-tube I had purchased on the same order with the overflow box. So I'm using the longer U-tube and it works, does what I expected. I've had a power outage and didn't lose siphon. Also when shutting off return pump didn't have loss either. Using with a double Tee'd off Mag 9.5.
I've also used the Hurricane overflow box. Well sort of used one, because before I could use it I dropped the outer box and put a nice crack up the side. So I had to modify a Plastic container to replace the outer box. Used it for a few months and didn't have any issues. Just looked ugly and inner box was too wide. The hurricanes aren't as strong because they are injected molded and the plastic walls are very thin. Also used with my Mag 9.5 pump.
Reasons that I didn't purchase LifeReef from the get go was because of the price. I figure If I pay that price for a overflow box I mind as well get a RR tank and have no worries at all.
If you are setting up a new tank, it is always best to drill or get an RR to begin with. A siphon overflow is for adding a sump to an established system and you dont want to tear it down to drill it. If you are, is it worth the extra $ for a LR? In the grand scheme of things, IMO, money well spent.
I bought this one:
http://yhst-66907246933688.stores.yahoo.net/quprov.html
Supposed to be extremely quiet and hold siphon when power is cut off and is at a nice price. Has a cover over the outside siphon box to eliminate salt water spray on my living room wall, which I like. Still not set up yet but when it is, I'll post some pics here, if anyone's interested.
http://yhst-66907246933688.stores.yahoo.net/quprov.html
Supposed to be extremely quiet and hold siphon when power is cut off and is at a nice price. Has a cover over the outside siphon box to eliminate salt water spray on my living room wall, which I like. Still not set up yet but when it is, I'll post some pics here, if anyone's interested.
